Stories of Change & Creativity

Ever wondered how artificial intelligence is reshaping our world and what it means for your future career?  I'm certainly following this topic along with my university colleagues.   

Join me for an enlightening conversation with TIM HAYDEN, CEO of Brain+Trust Partners and Texas State University alumnus, as we dissect the rapid evolution of AI. Discover how intuitive models like Perplexity are transforming the way we access information and why hands-on experimentation with AI tools is crucial to understanding their full potential. We also explore how students and faculty can harness AI to enhance their academic endeavors while maintaining the integrity of their educational experiences.

In this episode, Tim draws a fascinating parallel between the historical impact of the shipping container on global trade and the revolution AI promises to bring to various sectors. We discuss the importance of adopting a growth mindset and empathy to successfully navigate technological advancements.

And, as I do with all my guests, I asked Tim about his strengths and natural talents.  I hope you enjoy our conversation.   



Resources:

Contact Tim Hayden on LinkedIn

The Box:  How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger by Marc Levinson

The Signals are Talking: Why Today's Fringe is Tomorrow's Mainstream by Amy Webb

Quantitative Futurist Amy Webb

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I’m excited to share my interview with Conny Dassen.  I met Conny in The Netherlands….she and my husband went to high school together and have been friends for decades. I interviewed Conny from the charming setting of her historic farmhouse in eastern Holland, near the German border. 

Career

Join us as we explore the heartwarming and adventurous life of Conny Dassen, whose career journey has taken her from busy Amsterdam to the tranquil countryside of rural eastern Holland.   Conny’s diverse professional background includes positions in the hotel industry, a travel company, a car rental agency, an employment firm and in television entertainment.  Her late father was award-winning filmmaker and director Jan Dassen.  Throughout her varied career, Conny’s unwavering passion for human interaction guided her to find roles that connected her with others.  Now retired, Connie shares her reflections on balancing her love for people with her need for solitude and nature.

Love

Can a rekindled high school romance lead to happily-ever-after nearly five decades later?  In this episode, you'll hear Conny and JanTon's compelling love story, their travel adventures, and their dream to immigrate to Australia. They were recently married on their farm. 

Key Takeaways

• Connect with people, be open to new people and experiences
• Create a home that let's you live like you're on holiday 
• Talk with the elderly to learn history
• Talk with young people, they are the future
• Love might be right in front of you

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Are you training for the next decade?  Can therapeutic yoga revolutionize the way we approach back pain and functional mobility?

Join us for a captivating conversation with Dr. Nydia Tijerina Darby, a physical therapist and therapeutic yoga specialist.  Dr. Darby is always training for the next decade.   Discover how Nydia’s passion for movement helped her combat anxiety and depression, setting her on a path to a rewarding career that blends physical therapy and yoga.

Nydia Tijerina Darby is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Therapeutic Yoga Specialist and Certified Yoga Therapist. She is an experienced yoga educator, writer, published author, and international presenter on Therapeutic Yoga Lifestyle practices.     

Dr. Darby developed the Therapeutic Astanga Method© over 40 years and is the Owner & Creative Director of the Open Hand Institute and Nydia’s Yoga Therapy Studio in San Antonio, Texas. Nydia offers continuing education to clinicians in various fields introducing integrative methods of practicing into their lives and clinical work. She also provides community access to therapeutic yoga through her studio.

During our conversation we break down common misconceptions about yoga, challenging the idea that you need to be extremely flexible or fit a certain mold to benefit from its practice. Nydia shares the reasons why she wrote her book "Therapeutic Yoga Works:A Gentle Approach to Eliminating Back Pain and Improving Functional Mobility for Life." Her book is dedicated to making yoga accessible to everyone, emphasizing inclusivity and body positivity. We talk about the gentle yet effective methods she teaches to alleviate back pain and improve functional mobility, all backed by scientific research.

Dr. Nydia collaborates with faculty at The University of Texas Health in San Antonio  on scientific research.  Her research, with Dr. Amelie Ramirez, focuses on therapeutic yoga for cancer survivors. Their research found that yoga can be as effective as traditional exercise in improving health outcomes for cancer survivors.  Their study revealed significant improvements in respiratory capacity, mental health, and reduced inflammation. We also talk about the importance of self-care for clinicians and the integration of therapeutic yoga into physical therapy practices.  In 'preparing for the next decade,' Dr. Darby promotes preventative care to achieve holistic health and balance.

You can find Dr. Darby's book here:  "THERAPEUTIC YOGA WORKS: A Gentle Approach to Eliminating Back Pain and Improving Functional Mobility for Life."

Therapeutic Yoga Lifestyle Immersions, Therapeutic Yoga Trainings & Medical Continuing Education.  The Open Hand Institute. 

You can watch some of Dr. Nydia's videos on her YouTube channels:
https://www.youtube.com/@openhandinstitute

https://www.youtube.com/@NydiasYogaTherapy

https://nydiasyogatherapy.com/

Online scheduling for on-site and livestream classes and video on demand

https://app.ubindi.com/Nydia.Darby

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Have you ever wanted or needed to change your life and wondered how to do it? Well, this interview may be for you. 

On this episode, I'm excited to share my conversation with Elisabeth Sharp McKetta. Author of 13 books, Liz teaches writing for Harvard and Oxford and is the founder of the Book Year Writer's Circle.

McKetta's latest book is entitled Edit your Life: A Handbook for Living with Intention in a Messy World.   Elisabeth knows about what she writes. During our interview, she shares the story of her own major life edit.

You can find out more information about Liz, on her website.  

Key Takeaways:

1. Intentional Living: Elisabeth emphasizes the importance of living with intentionality. Much like editing in writing clarifies and refines, intentional living helps us clarify our priorities and align our actions accordingly.
2. The Power of Editing: Drawing from her background as a writer and teacher, Elisabeth discusses how editing principles can be applied to life. 
3. Elisabeth's Journey: Elisabeth shares her personal journey of undergoing a significant life edit. This experience forms the core of her insights into navigating change and making intentional choices.
4. Her book, Edit Your Life: A Handbook for Living with Intention in a Messy World.  The framework is examine, edit and enjoy.  

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This is a Happy Birthday episode.  Join me for an unforgettable conversation with my incredible mother, Joan Barnes, as she celebrates her 93rd birthday.

Hear about the early years of her marriage to my dad, their adventures during his Navy service, and their 1st year together in Bermuda. Joan's stories offer a unique perspective on the wisdom, love, and resilience that have been the backbone of our family for generations.

In this heartwarming episode, Mom and I dive deep into the fabric of our family, exploring the joys and challenges that come with seeing grandchildren grow and great-grandchildren arrive.   

My Mom shares her secret to a long and happy marriage—embracing individuality and finding someone who makes you a better person. We reflect on our unique family and the importance of being kind. This episode is a testament to cherishing life's blessings and staying positive amidst life's ups and downs.  We both agree that life can be really messy - but it's important to keep moving forward. 

Key Takeaways

• Celebrate each person's unique qualities
• Find a partner who makes you a better person
• Kindness is key
• Be good examples for your children
• Build a solid family foundation 

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Have you ever felt the ground beneath you shift so profoundly, it alters the course of your life? 

Peiming Sun, known as Sunny, certainly has.

From her days as a molecular biologist to her transformative journey to become a holistic lifestyle mentor, Sunny's story is one of  self-discovery and resilience.

Sunny applies ancient wisdom and modern science to help her mid-aged women clients change the story narratives and raise awareness about mind-body connection at the genetic level so that they can live with more energy, creativity and joy. Her Tiny Habits course is called Happiness Habits for People In Transition.  

Today's episode takes you on a remarkable journey, where Sunny opens up about navigating the challenges of raising a special needs child and going through a difficult marriage. 

Navigating Life's Changes:

• Sunny shares her journey from East to West, from a science-focused career to embracing spirituality and self-employment.
• She emphasizes the importance of experiencing change.

Transition to Holistic Coaching:

• Facing burnout while balancing work and family responsibilities, Sunny found ways to prioritize her well-being.
• She discusses her transition to coaching, integrating the Tiny Habits Method during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eastern and Western Tools:

• Judy and Sunny discuss the integration of Eastern practices, such as meditation and mindfulness, with Western lifestyle to reduce stress and increase happiness.
• We discuss why ancient practices may be undervalued in Western society.

Tiny Habits Coaching:

• Sunny explains the ABCs of Tiny Habits: Anchor, Behavior, and Celebration, emphasizing the power of celebrating small achievements to rewire the brain and boost motivation.

Finding Alignment and Flow:

• Sunny shares her framework "SLOW" (Self-awareness, Lifestyle, Openness, Wisdom) to help individuals align with their energy flow.  SLOW emphasizes the significance of acceptance and finding one's unique path.

Heart-Brain Coherence Technique:

• During our interview, Sunny shares a simple practice for calming the mind called Heart-Brain Coherence.  The technique involves heart focus, heart breathing, and heart feeling, as a way to reduce anxiety and connect with one's energy.

You can contact Sunny at https://www.keysforprosperityclub.com

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'As a functional medicine doctor, I have an opportunity of 20 to 30 years, before someone develops symptoms, to help them change, because a lot of the preventive strategies that we use for prevention of Dementia are lifestyle related.'
                                                                                                                                                      
Dr. Shabnam Das Kar transformed her medical career so she could help her patients avoid Dementia.   Before transitioning to functional medicine, Dr. Kar was practicing as an obstetrician gynecologist for more than 20 years in Mumbai. She lives in Calgary, Canada, and Mumbai, India.

  On this episode, Dr. Kar shares her extraordinary shift from traditional obstetrics and gynecology to a more holistic practice with a focus on brain health. She takes an  integrative approach to healthy aging, emphasizing the deep connections between our body's systems.  You'll learn about the  importance of the brain and how to develop tiny habit recipes to improve your overall health.   

 As a medical doctor, a brain health coach and a certified Tiny Habits coach, Dr. Kar helps people improve their focus, get rid of brain fog and prevent dementia down the line. Together we talk about the Fogg Behavior Model, developed by BJ Fogg, founder of the Stanford University Behavior Design Lab.  Healthy habits can lead to profound improvements in brain health and, subsequently, your overall sense of well-being.   Shabnam and I were trained in behavior design by Dr. BJ Fogg and Linda Fogg-Phillips.

Dr. Kar is determined to help her patients avoid dementia by creating healthy habits.  She shares some examples in our conversation.  She's also on the cutting edge of research into hypertension.   

This episode isn't just about the brain; it's an invitation to learn lifestyle enhancements that start tiny and have big results.  Reach out to us for more information about how to create habits for healthy aging and celebrate your success. 

You can connect with Dr. Kar  at drkarmd.com

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"Sleep isn't everything, but it impacts everything."  - Glen Lubbert

Peak performance in life and business often starts with the foundation of a good night's sleep.  Entrepreneur Glen Lubbert understands - first hand - the transformative influence that prioritizing sleep has on energy and focus.

A technology serial entrepreneur, Glen Lubbert is a certified sleep and behavior design expert, trained in mindfulness, nervous system management, and the Tiny Habits® and Thrive Global methodologies.  He founded  Stamina Lab to help people improve energy, focus, and resilience through data-informed sleep and health coaching.

Stamina Lab's two-week bootcamp stands as a testament to the power of 'Tiny Habits', demonstrating that small, intentional actions, like giving your phone its own bedtime, can lead to profound improvements in rest and, by extension, daily life.

In the ever-evolving odyssey of sleep and habit formation, Glen shares how cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and the discipline of a consistent wake-up time are essential in harmonizing our internal clocks. We recognize the patience required as sleep patterns recalibrate, bolstered by self-compassion and the recognition that sleep optimization is a continuous journey, not a destination.

This episode inspired me to rethink the role of sleep in my life.  You can connect with Glen and Stamina Lab for more information about their pioneering approach to wellness.

Thank you for joining us on Stories of Change and Creativity – We appreciate you leaving a review and any feedback. 

Glen Lubbert's website

Stamina Lab

Restful Revolution 14-Day Reset
https://staminalab.io/restful-challenge/

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 Challenge and change are a part of life.  And it's often difficult to find the strength to carry on and keep moving forward. 

In this episode, Linda Fogg-Phillips shares her personal story of resilience and determination.  She faced the triple blow of a family business collapse during the 2008 financial crisis, the heart-wrenching loss of her son Garrett and the death of her husband.  These tragic events eventually led to the creation of the Pearl Habits Method. 

The Pearl Habit Method was created by BJ Fogg Ph.D. and developed by Linda Fogg-Phillips as a way to implement behavior change through small, easy steps. During our interview, you'll hear some of Linda's most successful Pearl Habits.  Pearl Habits are simple. There are two parts: the irritant and the pearl.

Linda Fogg-Phillips has spent more than 30 years studying health behaviors, including nutrition, fitness, and mental health.  She is on a mission to help others live a happier and healthier life.  As the CEO and Co-Founder of the Tiny Habits® Academy, Linda's work focuses on behavior change and habit design.   She is a regular guest lecturer at Stanford University and is a featured family health expert in the media and in publications.

As the mother of eight children, Linda has had her own behavior change and habit design laboratory for more than 40 years. During our interview, Linda and I talk about grief, the power of choice and gratitude.  She always tells her children, "Be better, not bitter."   During tragedy, Linda worked hard to be her 'best self' for her children. 

BIO

Fogg-Phillips has a master’s degree in Health Promotion and Exercise Physiology. She has spent more than 35 years studying health behaviors, including nutrition, fitness, and mental health.  Linda has virtually coached over 15,000 people worldwide.  She is recognized by the American Council on Exercise as an expert in virtual coaching, habit formation and behavior change. She is a contributing author and expert for the ACE Behavior Change Certification Program.

Linda is an international author, public speaker, and consultant. She is the author of two books about understanding the online behavior of adolescents; Facebook for Parents and Facebook for Educators.  Linda is the host of the podcast, Pearl Habits; Creating beauty and positivity from life’s challenges. 

Fogg-Phillips is a featured social media and family health expert in the media and in publications such as the New York Times, CNN, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. During 2009 - 2013, Linda was the adolescent behavior expert and online safety consultant for Facebook, Inc. Linda was commissioned by Facebook to write their first Facebook Online Safety Guide for Educators. Linda is a regular guest lecturer at Stanford University.

Find out more about Pearl Habits here.  

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Ok - now you know your strengths and natural talents.  You understand the proven formula for creating habit recipes.  You also know why it's important to practice compassion for others and yourself.  What's next?  It's time to take action. 

In part 5 of this short audio series, I focus on how you can 'take action' to chart your own path and create your Leadership Playbook.  

Here's my 4-step process:
 1. Discover your strengths 
2.  Understand the science of change
3. Practice compassion and 
4. Take action.  

Topics:

• Gallup CiftonStrengths Assessment 
• Free High 5 Test - strengths 
• Break down the process
• Celebrate each step
• Review your calendar or planner
• Make sleep a priority
• Professional development is personal development

Experts mentioned in this episode include: 

• BJ Fogg, Stanford University Behavior Design Lab Founder.  NY Times bestselling author of Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything
• Glen Lubbert, Stamina Lab Founder and Tiny Habits Coach

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